Edwin l



(No Model.)

E.'L. SPRAGU-B.

SHOE. No. 283,035. Patented Aug. 14, 1883.

N. PETERS, mmumsnplm, wamingtm. 9.1:.

v y' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. EDwIN L. SPEAGIE, oF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE.

srEorFrcATIoN forming part `of Letters Patent No. 233,035, dated August 14', 1883. Application filed April 20, 1883. (No model.)

ToaZZ wiz/,omit may concern: y Be it known that I, EDWIN L. SPRAGUE, of

, Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a` elastic, thus permitting it to more readily adapt i itself to the ankle, and to obviate the obj ection- 'able extension of theso-called strengthening-stri ps7 of the fastening-flap across the foot below the ankle-bone,where, in many instances, it makes an objectionable pressure. In the patent referred to that portion of the fastening-Hap containing the button-holes, as well as the attached elastic portion, is bound at the lower edge by a strengthening-strip extended across the inner side of the foot below the ankle-bone, where it is connected directly with the front portion of the top and produces an uncomfortable pressure at such point because of its thickness. Binding the lower edge ofthe fastening-flap renders the same inelastic at its lower edge, and makes it hard for the wearer of the shoe, if at all a close fit, to button the lower button of thefastening-ap, and when buttoned draws uncomfortably across a very tender part of the inner side of the foot.` To obviate this close t and uncomfortable pressure manufacturers are liable not to fit the shoe with sufficient care, ,and consequently leave the lower thickened edge ofthe fastening-nap toolong, so that it bulges outwardly, destroying the appearance of the shoe and leaving a gap `for the entrance of dust, Src., into the shoe. A shoe of this class to be desirable should t as snugly and carefully as a Congress gaiter, and the elasticity of the top should be the same at each side in order to equalize the pressure of the shoe `at the ankle. To overcome this difficulty I` have made the fastening-flap of a piece of elastic fabric having two selvage edges andA extended from the bottom to the top of the flap, so that the selvage edges form portions 'of the bottom and top of the iiap, and along the outer edge of the saidfabric Ihave stitched a piece of leather provided with button-holes, thus leaving the flap free to stretch along its top and bottom and adapt the top of the shoe or the part above the vamp and quarter to the ankle ofthe wearer.

Figure l, in side elevation, represents a shoe embodying my invention, the flap being closed or buttoned; and Fig. 2a similar view, with i the flap unbuttoned and opened.

The vamp a, quarter b, sole c, and front portions, cl, of the top, and back portions, e, and elastic gore f 2 at the closed side of the shoe, are all substantially as in the patent referred to;

, but the elastic portion or gore Ain the fastening-flap differs from that marked f in the said patent in that it has selvage edges r s at bottom and top, which are free to stretch and enable the fastening-Hap to adapt itself to the size and shape ofthe ankle and inner side of the foot and always insure a close t at the lower edge cf the said flap without objectionable pressure.

The fastening-flap has one edge of its elasticV portions A stitched to the front piece', d, of the top at m, and at the other side edge of the said elastic portion is a buttoning -piece, B, of leather, which is stitched to it at n, as shown in Fig. 1.

The button-holes are marked nand the buttons p, leaving the elastic fabric A free to stretch at bottom and top and connecting the buttoning-piece Bonly with the elastic fabric p A, and not directly with the front piece, d, as in the said patent, by a strengthening-strip, leaves the part A of the buttoning-piece free to stretch at its upper and lower edges, as de, scribed, as much as may be needed.

` At the upper edge of the quarter, and between the edges of the front and back pieces, d e,4of the top, and at the lower end of the space or opening at the inner side of the Shoe when unbuttoned, there isa small elastic gore, g, the upper port-ion of which is overlapped by the lower selvage edge, s, of the elastic portion A of the ii'ap, so that at such point there are two thicknesses of elastic fabric when the shoe is buttoned. If the iiap herein shown `were provided with` the so-called strengthening-strip77 ofthe shoe represented in the patent referred to as enveloping the lower end of IOO -2 v eeaos constructed as herein shown, and having its lower edge free to be stretched across the ankle to the lower button of the buttons p, the gore g is at all times free to yield to the ankle to- 5 gether with the elastic portion A. Leaving the lower edge of the elastic part A and selvage edge free to yield and stretch to t the ankle when the iiap is buttoned, I am enabled to dispense with the eXtra cost attendant upon io fitting the shoe to ankles of particular size, as when thel'ower edge of the ilap is bound and does not stretch, and I am also enabled to save stock, thus cheapening the cost of construction of the shoe and enabling it to be made by or- 15 dinary workmen. Instead of button-holes and buttons, I may employ any other usual fastening devices.

The top pieces,cl e, and the buttoning-ilap B may be made of cloth or any usual material 2c commonly employed in shoes.

Iam aware that it is not new to add to an otherwisenished and complete boot a top or anklet attached above the usual gaiter-top by extending the heel-piece or providing it 2 5 with a narrow projecting tongue, to which tongue elastic flaps are attached, so that they \will overlap the usual gaiter-top, and which flaps are provided with leather or other edges andfastening devices thereon uniting at the 3o front of the leg to protect the stockings; but

this top or anklet does not constitute the fasthaving selvage edges 1f s, and an attached butening device of the shoe, as in my invention, and I expressly limit my invention to a shoe the fastening-flap whereof is constructed as herein set forth. 35

I claiml. In a shoe having a sole, C, Vamp, and quarter, and top pieces, d e, the iiap for fastening the shoe, composed of an elastic fabric 4o ton-piece, B, the parts being joined together, as described, leaving the selvage edges of the elastic 'fabric A free to yield to the shape. of the ankle, substantially as set forth.

2. In a shoe having a sole, c, vamp, and 45 quarter, and top pieces, d e, .the flap for fastening the shoe, composed of an elastic fabric having selvage edges 1- s, and an attached button-piece, B, the parts being joined together, as described, leaving the selvage edges of the 5o elastic fabric Afree to yield to the shape of the ankle, and having an elastic gore, g, overlapped by thelower edge ofthe fastening-Hap, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name 55 to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN L. SPRAGUE.

Vitnesses:

G. WV. GREGORY, B. J. NoYEs. 

